Loading machine



Jam. 8, 1946. J. D. RUSSELL ETAL I LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m fii I INVENTORS %,-4Z BY 6, 34.11, 1% flfafi 7M! M 4 r roe/vs rs.

Jan 8, 1946. J; D. RIUSSELL ETAL LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept; 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS f4 2. fw

09 7' TORNE Y8.

LOADING MACHINE Patented Jan. 8, 1946. 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE John D. Russell, Charles F. Ball, and Arthur S.

Knoizen, Franklin, Pa., assignors to Joy Manufacturing Company, Franklin, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,366

9 Claims.

This invention relates to coal loading machines,

and more particularly to such machines used for loading coal in a mine onto a conveyor belt or into mine cars.

In the type of coal mining called the long-wall can discharge coal from either side of themasystem, a working face is developed which varies chine, and can be pa tial y a ed o Permit from 300 to 600 feet in length. This face is unthe machine to clear the mine props as it moves dercut and this is dynamited or shot to loosen along the working face. The discharge conveyor the coal to a depth of several feet. Paralleling p fe ably is concav le gthwise so that as it is the working face beside the shot coal but sepamoved to the' side of the machine its outer end rated therefrom by a line of props generally rises. This pe s t 8. t be discharged at placed on four-foot centers, is a conveyor belt or various lev ls With ut h n the v l o h mine cars into which the coal is shoveled by po ion f t e c nveyor below the loading eonminers who work from one end of the face to the Veyor. The discharge co v y p b y iS other. After the loosened coal has been loaded, 1 driv n by an endless chain traveling around the newly cleared area forms the mine passage, sprockets on its end' shafts and driven by a cenand cribbing is erected in the old passage to suptral drive sprocket. A pair of idler sprockets are port its roof; The roof of the new passage is ppor d n r k n pp site sides of the ropped, the new working-face is undercut, and drive sprockets where they engage the side of the the conveyor is moved over toward the props to chain opposite to the drive sprocket. The brack- I receive the coal that will be shot loose. This ets are pivotally mounted for movement in the procedure is repeated many times, so the passage plan of the sprockets and are biased toward the thus keeps moving laterally as the working face drive spr k t to ta up t e s a k n e ha is progressively broken down and carried away The frame for each caterpillar unit preferably is and the previously unobstructed area of the pas- 20 f m d m a pair of at a y pa d v rti a sage filled with cribbing. Mobile coal loading side pla s d y nn t by a pair of v machines now in general use were developed for cally spaced horizontal bracing plates extendin the room-pillar system of mining and are not longitudin lly thereof. The lower edges of the suitable for long-wall" work because the maside p at s e 'p v d w th r s s in w i h chines are designed to gather coal at the front narrow wear plates are dispos d. ot b and discharge it into suitable haulage devices mounted n t e ends o t Side Plates are p traveling in the room at right angles to the relats that supp rt th d ss a p ar chain tively narrow working face. with its attached tread plates. The operators It is among the objects of this invention to station is at the rear of the machine behind both provide a coal loading machine which is adapted 3 c v y for the long-wall system of mining, which re- The preferred embodiment of the invention ceives coal at the front and discharges it from s i lust at d in t e acco p ny drawings in the side of the loader, which can discharge coal which Fig. 1 is a p V h e Of t a from either side of the loader, which can disp lar units pa t y b n a y; 218 a Side charge coal at various levels, which has improved 40 V w; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the maand inexpensive caterpillar frames, and which is chine; Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section small and rugged in construction. taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a e In accordance with this invention a vehicle similar section taken on the line VV of Fig. 2; frame, preferably mounted on caterpillarunits, Fig. 6 is'a view of the rear. end of the machine; supports an inclined loading conveyor projecting and Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of half of the downwardly from its front end. This conveyor center frame of the machine. may be the usual type consisting of a central end- Referring to the drawings, especially Fig. 7, a less conveyor onto which the coal is pushed by center frame is formed from a pair of vertical oscillating gathering arms at its sides. Mounted front and back plates l and 2 at the lower poron the frame below the rear end of the loading tionsof which there are vertical side plates 3 conveyor is a discharge conveyor for receiving weldedto the back plate. Extending across the coal from the loading conveyor. This discharge frame is a pair of stationary square shafts 4 that conveyor extends transversely of the frame so that have cylindrical end portions projecting through the coal will be discharged from the side of the the side walls. The rear shaft is adjacent the machine. The discharge conveyor can be driven back plate, but the front shaft is secured to and in either direction so that the coal can be discharged from either side of the machine. The discharge conveyor also i movable longitudinally in either direction so that it can be projected and,

' supports the front plate which does not reach the side plates. Horizontal beams 6 are connected at their ends to the two shafts and support three laterally spaced bars 1 that extend transversely across the frame. Also extending substantially across the frame isan elongated member 8 having a horizontal top wall attached to the back of the front plate and projecting beyond it. and a downwardly'extending-rear wall the .lower part of which'is' secured to the back side'of the front shaft. There is thus formed between this memher and the front shaft an open-front recess at V each side of the frame with blocks 9 fastened in both ends of both chambers. These blocks and the side plates are provided with aligned openings. As shown in Fig. 3, extending forward from the bottom of the front plate is a forwardly tapered plate I I the outer end .of which is provi e withiapair of laterally spaced bearings 12. An

other plate l3 extendsforward from the upper portion of the front plate and then downwardly to these bearings to which it is attached.

Asshown' in Figs l; 2, and 5, the center frame is supported between a pair of caterpillar units the fram'e for. each of which consists of a pair of'later-ally spaced verticals'i'de plates l6 extendinga considerable distance ahead of and behind the center frame and'rig'idl connected by a pair of verticallyspacedhorizontal bracing plates I! that 'are nearly as lon'g' asthe side plates. The side plates are provided with openings through which the cylindrical ends" of shafts 4 extend.

1 Nuts 18 threaded on the en ds of' these shafts rigidly conne ct" center frame.

The rear ends of each pair of side plates it are provided with aligned openings in which a shaft l'9 'is journaled," as shown in Fig, 1; The

he e rin f ame to the shaft extends trim-ugh the inner side'plate andj carries a sprdcket Z'lb'y which the shaft is driven,

while' ahother sprocket ZZ is rigidly mounted on the shaft between the plat'es"that support it. The front end's'cf' side" plates iii are provided with rearwardly extending slots 23 in each of which ablock-ZA is- ;slidably moiinted. Extending through the two blocks-"is a headed pin 26, and.

a circular plate 28 is mounted on theouter end of e l k bi f 'i bl si ren e h outer I surface of the adjoinirigsideplate to cover the 5101;} {23 thereinf lhese members are all held toge her by anut '29 on the end of the pin.

Joli: i dpn the -pinis a sprocket t that is straddled by the forked end of a tubular member' 32j-also mounted oh the pin. To urge this sprocket toward the adjacent end ofthe eaten.

pillar frame, a coil spring 33 is compressed between -asho-ulderin tubular member and a collar on a screw 3l ext'ending through the spring from?! a n'ut 38 that bears against a 'crossplate 39in the frame; 'Ihganiii;"can be adjusted througha slot 46in the outer side .plateof the frame'in-order tova'ry the pressure on the spring. Elxtendihg' around the twosprockets at the opposite 'ends or the frame is an endless'chain 4| that carries tre'ad'platesfz." The tread plates at the bbttoin'of the frame slide along wear plates 43 mounted in longitudinal r'ecessesin the lower ,7 edges of the side plates. The wear plates extend I inwardly toward each other far enough to prevent the tread plates from moving laterally,

The-side plates l5 areproy'ided .behind back plate' zwitha "parr brackets 44 extending up abovethe'treads. a'sishown in Figs. Zand 5. Each pair of'brackets is providedwith a pair of aligned eie l l'whr he fr eterd f a cradle and. hydraulic control elements for the loader are'mounted The box also supports a shelf 54 a on which the op erator kneels. Connected to the centralportion of back plate 2 and extending rearwardly therefrom toward the control box is an electric'motor' 55. As shown in Fig. 3, the

reduced front end of the motor extends through an opening in the back plate and drives a sprocketE-I that is connected by a chain 58 (Fig. 5) to a maller sprocket 59 mounted on a pump shaft. This shaft "extend throu h the back plateto an hydraulic pump 50: (Fig.1). supported by theback plate and connected by hoses'fil and 62 to a four-Way valve 63 mounted beneath-a horizontal plate .65 cpnneoted tothe back plate and control box. Theinlet of. the valve is con.- nected' by a hose 6 4 to an oil tank 65 suspended fror'n another horizontal plate 6,1 connected, to the back plate and control boxon the other side of themoton The valve outlet is connected by a hose 58 to 'a pair of manually operable control valves 65 that have an outlet connected by a hose 7 10 to the'cil tank. The controlvalves also have three ports thatare 'conn'ectedfby' pipes ll '12, and 13 to hydraulic cylinderfs' that will be described presently. g r h At the front encl'of the center frame there is a loading conveyor'which comprises a tiltable inclined'head lejcarrying an endless conveyor 17 onto' which coal is pushed by gathering arms l8. 'lhe head has ap'air' of arms I9 (Fig. 3) that extends rearwardly into the chambers be,- tween center frame blocksfl (Fig.7) to which they are pivotally connected. The elevation of the front end of thehead is controlled by'an hvd aili' yl er ili etispi otany co es d I to the bearings lgof the'center frameand that houses a pistgn iizpivot'ally connected to the bot.- tom of the .head,fa's shown in Figs. 1 and 3.. This cylinder is connected by pipe 'H.to control valves 59? At' the rear end ofthe head there'i's a cross shaft 83 (Fig.3) on'the ends of which are sprockets aq that supper-tin upper end of the nve or. while he o er en f he c yor extendshlql nd sprockets 8 rig1idly mounted'on a cross shaft 31; *Be vel gears 881mg. 2) on the ends of shaft 8] mesh with. be'v'el gears 83 rotatay m u te above them d rectly elow the ea h:

plate 9! t ppr s te Side o h nv y rs 8. a e conne t 'th rqi 'shfon ni ss n th plates to crank discs-92 ;onwhich the gathering arms are pivotally mpunted The rear-ends of the ar are pivet 'uy ie byJ Ii s- HW eaih i l tes'jte-s ve' he-des d W911: nm i ee h e T e r 89 are...

. driven'by' bevel pinicnsjgiithat are rotated by electric motors -96. suspended frorn the gathering plates. v I

I n t r f r d hi inr ien. s tha t e upper n Of t nv y r dum sw lr n o a c a wil hat. ex ends a ross. th

' c Thi 0n e br siermsd.frqmvertical Sides la s, lls tdfbr ah omrla e m2; and??? etii dinell re -scare fiJQQlTD li s lassis secured to the bottom of the conveyor-. near supporting the upper strand of the conveyor. At

the .oppositeends of the side plates there are iournaled cross shafts I04 and I06 that extend through the rear side plate into a drivehousing having a rear wall I01. Rigidly mounted on these shafts between the conveyor side plates are sprockets I08 that carry a pair of endless chains I539 connected at spaced intervals by parallel cross members III. The upper strand of the conveyor is held down on the'concave'floor plate by means of concave side bars I I2 attached to the 'side plates directly above the chains.

As shown in Fig. 5, the rearwardly projecting ends of shafts I04 and I06 are provided in the drive housing with sprockets II3 one of which is rigidly'mountedon its supporting shaft while the other may be an idler. These two sprockets are connected by a'chain H4 that extends over a pair of idler sprockets H6 and II I and down around a driving sprocket I I8 between them. I The driving sprocket is connected by a spring loaded clutch to the large sprocket 51 operated by motor 56 so that these last two sprockets are'coaxial and are driven in unison. The idler sprockets I I6 and H1 are each rotatably mounted in brackets I2I that are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the top of the rear square shaft 4. These brackets have forwardly projecting rotatable pins I22 through which a rod I23 slidably extends. The brackets are urged toward each other by coil springs I24 compressed on the rods between the pins and nuts I 26 threaded on the ends of the rods. Mounted on shaft 4 below each bracket is a stop member I 21 for limiting downward movement of the adjacent bracket when its sprocket is forced downwardly by the chain being under tension due to the pull of the driving sprocket H8. The stop member prevents the adjacent sprocket from being forced down so far as to permit chain I I 4 to become disengaged from too many teeth of driving sprocket I I 8. When one bracket is thus forced down the other bracket is swung upwardly bythe rod and springs to take up the slack in the chain on that side of the driving sprocket. The sprocket brackets are mounted in this way because, as will be shown presently, the discharge conveyor is reversible.

.In order to be able to discharge coal from,

either side of the machine, the cross conveyor can be moved longitudinally to project it from eitherside. For this purpose rods I30 are secured to the outer surfaces of, the front side plate and rear housing wall I01 and extend longitudinally thereof. The rods are slidably supported in recessed guide members I3I (Figs. 2 and 3) attached to the front and back plates of the center frame. The movement of the conveyor across the machine is accomplished by a pair of hydraulic cylinders I32 and I33 mounted on the bars at the bottom of the center frame. The two cylinders face in opposite directions and each is provided with a piston I34 or I36 that carries two pulleys I31 at its outer end. The opposite end of each cylinder carries one pulley I38. As shown in Fig. 4, a cable I39, that is anchored at its lower end in a caterpillar unit, extends across the center frame and up around one of the double pulleys on piston I34, back across the frame and around the pulley I38 on cylinder I32, back to the other double pulley, and then back again to a bracket I4I attached to the bottom plate of the discharge conveyor. Another cable I42 is connected in the same Way to the other caterpillar unit and the pulleys of the other piston and cylinder. The upper end of the cable shaftI06. l r

. The two cylinders are connectedby pipes;

and 13 to the hydrauliccontrol *valvesBS so that:

as fluid pressure is' admitted to one cylinder the fluid in the other cylinder is released to the .oil

tank. When motor 56 is :reversed in ordento drive the-conveyor in the opposite direction so that it Will always discharge coal from the sideof the machine from which it projects, the motor likewise drives the pump in the opposite direction. It is therefore necessary to reverse the flow of oil into and out of the pump, which is doneby turning the handle, of the four-way valve 63 so to accomplish'iboth of these things while allow ing the conveyor to dischargefrom either side of the machine, the supporting rods I30 are bowed downwardly to the same extent as the floor I03 of the discharge conveyor; 'Iherefore, as ,either.

end of this conveyor is moved outwardly its outer end rises, but the portion beneaththe loading conveyor remains the same distance below the upper end of that conveyor. It will be noted in Fig. 4 that the upper edge of the front side plate I M of the cross conveyor likewiseis con cave and is substantially engaged by the curved lower, edges of a pair of vertical guard plates I46 extending outwardly from the upper end, of

the main conveyor.

Fig. 4 also, shows the discharge conveyor projecting from the right side of the machine with its outer end level with the top of the main conveyor, but with its inner end portion below the upper end of the main conveyor. By pumping oil into cylinder I 32 and releasing it from cylinder I33, piston I34 will be moved to the left and will;

thereby cause cable I39 to move thedischarge conveyor across the center frame so thatit will project from the left side of the machine as indicated by :broken lines in Figs. 1 and 6. 1 g

It will be seen that in the long-wall mining system this loader is adapted to travel parallel to and between the working face and the mineprops with the cross conveyor normally extending between the props to discharge onto a belt or into cars likewise traveling parallel to the working face. The cross conveyor also is capable of being readily retracted to permit the machine to pass the mine props. Also,,in order to avoid spillage of coal when the cross conveyor is opposite a prop, the machine may be trammed back and forth; that is, the machine is driven' forward with the gathering arms in operation to deliver coal to the cross conveyor, but before the coal is discharged from the cross conveyor the machine is backed up so that the discharge end of the cross conveyor is clear of the prop, whereupon the coal is discharged into the haulage unit, After all of the coal has been discharged, the machine is again driven forward and the aboveof the room at the rearfo f the working face.

According to the provisions "of the; patent statutes, we have explained the principle and construction of our invention andy'have illustrated and described what we now consider torepresent its best embodiment. However, wedesire torhav-e it understood that, within the scope of the apsaid frame transversely thereof and below the rear end of said loading-conveyor for-receiving coal therefrom, means for moving the discharge conveyor lor-igitudinally in opposite directions to project it from either side of said frame, said discharge conveyor being provided with sprockets at its opposite ends and with an endless conveyor element extending around said sprockets; and means for f always driving the sprocket at the projecting end of the discharge conveyor in-a direction to pull the upper length of said conveyor element around'it, whereby said upper length is kept under tension andcoal is always discharged from said projecting end of the conveyor.

7 2. A coal loading machine-comprising a vehicle frame, means attached to the frame for propelling it along'the ground, an inclined loading con- 7 veyor projecting downwardly from the front end of the'frame, a discharge conveyor mounted on said frame transversely'thereof and below the 7 rear end of said leading conveyor for receiving coal therefrom, said discharge conveyor being provided with driving 'sprockets'at its opposite ends, an endless chain extending around said sprockets, a drive sprocket engaging the chain between said driving sprockets, means for moving the discharge conveyor longitudinally in opposite directions to project'it from either side of said framaand" means for driving said drive sprocket in'opposite directions whereby to selectively .dis-

charge coal from either side of the machine.

assassithe cylinders, cablesconnecting the pistons with the discharge conveyor for moving it in opposite directions to project it from either side of said frame, means for admitting fluid under pressure selectively into either cylinder and for releasing fluid from the other, and means for driving the discharge conveyor in opposite directions Whereby to discharge coa'l'from the'side of the machine from which the conveyor projects.

5. A coal loadingmachine comprising a vehicle frame, means attached to the'frame for propelling it along the ground, said frame having spaced vertical front and back walls, a discharge conveyor extending transversely of said frame 'be'-. tween said walls, an elongated'supporting mem ber extending lengthwise of each side of the con;

' veyor and secured thereto, guide members mounted on said walls and ,slida'bly receivingsaidsupporting members, an inclined loading conveyor projecting downwardly from the front end ofsaid frame with its rear end projecting over said front wise in opposite directions in said guide members 3. A-coal loading machine comprising aveh-icle.

' frame, means attached'to the frame for prope'l-' ling it along theground, an inclined' 'loading conveyor'projecting downwardly from the front end of the frame, a discharge-conveyor disposed transversely of said frame below the rear end of" said loading conveyor for receiving-coal therefrom, a

downwardly bowed supporting member extending 7 7 lengthwise of each side of the discharge conveyor and secured thereto, guide members mounted on said frame and provided with recesses forslidably receiving said supporting members,'mea-ns for sliding said'supportin'g "members lengthwise in opposite directions in said guide members to selectively project the conveyor from eitherside of'said frame'with its outerrend higher than the rest of "the conveyor, and means for driving the discharge conveyor-in opposite directionswhereby' todischarge coal from either 'sideof themachin'e;

'4; A coal loading machine comprising a'vhicle frame, means attached to'the frame for prope'lling it along the ground, aninclined loading conveyor projecting downwardly from thefront; end ofthe frame, a discharge conveyor mounted on said frame transversely thereof andbelow the rear' end of saidloading conveyor for receiving coal therefrom, a pair of horizontal hydraulic' cyl inders rigidly mounted on said frame under the discharge conveyor, pistons slidably mounted into selectively project the conveyor from either side of said frame, and means for driving the dis veyor extending transversely of said frame between said walls, said back wall being provided with an 'opening'an electric motor mounted hind said back wall andoperative'ly co nei ted through said opening with the conveyor for driving it, and an inclined loading conveyor projectin downwardly-from the front end of said frame with its rear end projecting over said front Wall to deliver coal to the discharge conveyor.

'7. A coal loading machine comprising a vehicle frame, means attached to the frame" for propel- ,ling it along theground, an inclined loadingconveyor projecting downwardly from the' front end of the frame, a discharge conveyor mounted on said frame transversely thereof and below the rear end of said loading conveyor for receiving -cdal therefrom, hydraulically actuated means for moving the dischargeconveyor longitudinally in opposite directions to project it from either side of said frame, an hydraulic pumpjan electric motor for driving the pump, means operably connecting the motor to the discharge conveyor, means for reversing the motor to drive the conveyor inthe opposite direction, and means for reversing the inlet and outlet connections to the pump when said'motor is reversed.

-8. A self-propelled coal loading machine comprising a frame, traction members supporting the 1 frame at opposite sides thereof, means'for driving each of saidv members, an inclined loading con veyor pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on the front end'oftheframe between said'tract'ion members, electrically operated means for driving saidconveyor, hydraulic means for .tiltin g said conveyor about its pivot, a discharge conveyorl mounted transversely of said frame and below the rear end'of the loadingfconveyor; hydraulicmeans:

- for moving the dischargeconveyor transversely of the frame, electrically operatedmeansfor drivin the discharge conveyor in opposite directions, and

manually operable controls at the rear ofthemachineforactuating saidelectri'cally' operatedand" hydraulic means;

9. A coal loading machine for the long-wall system of mining comprising a frame, means attached to opposite sides of the frame for propelling it along the ground, a loading conveyor at the front end of the frame formed to gather coal in front of the machine and to carry it rearwardly thereof, a reversible discharge conveyor mounted for transverse reciprocation centrally of the frame below the rear end of the loading conveyor and adapted to receive coal therefrom and to discharge it at either side of the machine, and manually operable control means mounted at the rear of the frame behind the discharge conveyor for controlling the operations of said propelling means and the two conveyors and of the reciprocation of the discharge conveyor, said controlmeans being located in a position for actuation by an operator stationed behind the machine.

JOHN D. RUSSELL. CHARLES F. BALL. ARTHUR S. KNOIZEN. 

